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China, Hong Kong each collect a gold from table tennis
7/12/2006 10:12

Penultimate day of the table tennis tournament in the Doha Asian Games produced the biggest upset as Hong Kong of China grabbed a gold medal from the all-conquering Chinese national team yesterday.

Li Ching and Ko Lai Chak completed a mission impossible to win the Olympic final rematch 4-2 over China's Ma Lin and Chen Qi, after newly-combined Guo Yue and Li Xiaoxia beat Hong Kong's Tie Yana and Zhang Rui 4-1 to China's third table tennis title.

"It's out of my expectation," said Li at a post-match press conference. "I had been thinking about a silver."

"I think you can describe us as more than excellent," said Ko.

The Olympic final rematch ended 11-8, 4-11,11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7 in favor of the Hong Kong duo, who were beaten in Athens four years ago.

The victory gave Hong Kong the first Asiad's men's table tennis gold medal and denied a clean sweep by China, who had swept the men's team, women's team and women's doubles events.

Hong Kong had only won a mixed doubles title from last Asiad in Busan before Li and Ko's earning.

"The Hong Kong duo played well and are one of the best pairs in the world," said Chinese head coach Liu Guoliang. "It's not a shame to be beaten by them."

"I'm still seeking a better pairing for the Beijing Olympic Games, which will cancel the men's and women's doubles events and replace those with team events," added Liu, referring to the changes made to the Olympic Games.

On Thursday, Ma Lin and Wang Hao will meet in an all-Chinese final; Guo Yue will vie for the women's singles crown with Tie Yana, who upset Chinese star Wang Nan in six sets; Ma Lin/Wang Nanwill face Lee Jung Woo/Lee Eun Hee of South Korea in the mixed doubles final.

Wang Nan, a "Grand Slam" winner of Olympics, world championships and World Cup, suffered a 4-2 (6-11, 11-8, 11-4, 2-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6) loss to Tie, who had never beaten Wang before this Asian Games.

"I had no regrets and I'm gratified to have won the women's team championship," Wang said with sobs, who tried very hard to regain composure but still needed to cut answers short while facing reporters.

In the seventh set, Wang wasted a flying start of 5-0 to trail 5-8 and then 6-10. Then an out-of-the-table return by Wang sent the Hong Kong ace to the final.

"Wang was too nervous and I just played beyond my level," said Tie, who will turn 29 in two weeks.

"I think Wang had put too much pressure on herself, and she didn't stick to the tactics which had helped her pull back two sets," said Hong Kong coach Li Huifen.



Xinhua News